Donald Trump told Joe Biden that “politics is tough” as he returned to the White House for the first time in four years for a transition meeting.
The two men joked about the media and said they hoped the transfer of power would be “smooth”, a week after Mr Trump stormed to victory in all seven swing states, trouncing Kamala Harris.
In a short appearance before the cameras ahead of their two-hour meeting, Mr Trump said: “Politics is tough, and it’s in many cases not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today, and I appreciate it very much.”
Mr Biden said: “Donald, congratulations. Looking forward to having a smooth transition.
“We’re doing everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated, and we’re going to get a chance to talk about some of that today.”
The meeting was also attended by the current and incoming White House chiefs of staff. Karine Jean-Pierre, Mr Biden’s press secretary, said they held a “substantive meeting and exchange of views,” including on national security matters.
It was the first time the two men had met since the presidential debate in June, when Mr Biden claimed Mr Trump had “the morals of an alley cat” while the Republican suggested his opponent was senile.
Mr Trump did not hold a transition meeting in the White House for Mr Biden in 2021 because he did not accept the result of the election and initially refused to leave office. Mr Biden has said he will do everything he can to facilitate the change in personnel.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump faced a setback on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, where John Thune, the South Dakota senator, was elected the Senate majority leader.
Mr Thune had been criticised by some of the president-elect’s allies, who favoured a rival Trump loyalist, Rick Scott.
Speaking after the vote, Mr Thune said the Senate would now turn to the task of confirming Mr Trump’s Cabinet nominations, which are expected to continue this week.
He said he was “beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority and the White House,” adding: “This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.”
Mr Thune, Mr Scott and the Texas senator John Cornyn were the frontrunners to replace Mitch McConnell, the outgoing party chief in the upper chamber.
Mr Thune is an ally of Mr McConnell, who has clashed with Mr Trump. Some on Mr Trump’s team are concerned he could try to block some key appointments.
Challenge for Trump
The new Senate leader was the target of Mr Trump’s ire in 2021 after he criticised the president-elect’s claim that the 2020 election had been rigged by Mr Biden.
Peter Navarro, a Trump ally who served as a White House aide in his first administration, said before the vote: “If John Thune or John Cornyn get control of the Senate, like Mitch McConnell did, we’re not going to have a Trump Cabinet.”
After the 2016 election, some of Mr Trump’s planned appointments were delayed for months before they took office because of opposition in the Senate.
Mr Trump has made several key nominations since his election last week, including Marco Rubio as his secretary of state and the former Fox News anchor Pete Hegseth as defence secretary.
Mr Hegseth is a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and has previously suggested women should not be allowed to serve in front line roles. He was also filmed accidentally throwing an axe at a military drummer in a stunt on Fox that went awry.
Credit: Fox News
On Tuesday night, Mr Trump announced that Elon Musk, the billionaire SpaceX founder, and his former Republican rival Vivek Ramaswamy would co-chair a new commission on government efficiency, named “DOGE”.
The remaining major appointments include Mr Trump’s treasury secretary and attorney general. His choices so far suggest he has prioritised political allies that have pledged support for his “America First” agenda.
Contenders for the US Treasury job include John Paulson, a billionaire hedge fund manager, and Howard Lutnick, who is currently working for the Trump transition team.
Mr Ramaswamy, who withdrew from the Republican primary earlier this year after the Iowa caucus, has said he supports the abolition of the FBI.
Mr Musk first suggested the role of a government efficiency commission in an interview with Mr Trump on his platform, X, in August.
He has said he hopes to reduce the number of federal agencies in the US from more than 400 to 99 and reduce spending on “woke” diversity projects and other “insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars”.
Mr Trump, Mr Musk and Mr Ramaswamy have all supported the abolition of the federal Department of Education, leaving individual states to deliver schools policy. Almost all of the day-to-day management of education is already devolved.
DOGE, which is named after a “meme” cryptocurrency, will exist outside of the US government and will conclude its work by July 2026, the Trump transition team said.
In his announcement, Mr Trump said the body would drive “drastic change” by making proposals on “large scale structural reform”. The recommendations would push the government to take a more “entrepreneurial approach” by focusing on federal bureaucracies and agencies, as well as slashing red tape and spending.
Speculation mounted on Wednesday that Mr Trump is planning to appoint Alina Habba, a lawyer who represented him in several of his trials, as White House press secretary. She has said she would “very seriously” consider the role.
Other contenders include Karoline Leavitt, a 27-year-old communications adviser who served as the Trump campaign’s spokesman.
04:28 PM GMT
The Trump-Biden remarks in full
Joe Biden said:
Donald, congratulations. Looking forward to having a, like we said, a smooth transition.
We’re doing everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated, and we’re going to get a chance to talk about some of that today.
Donald Trump responded:
Well, thank you very much. And politics is tough, and it’s in many cases not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today, and I appreciate it very much.
A transition that’s so smooth it’ll be as smooth as it can get. And I very much appreciate that Joe.
04:23 PM GMT
Trump and Biden make brief appearance before media
Donald Trump and Joe Biden had a brief meeting in front of media in the Oval Office. The two men shook hands and spoke briefly, sitting in front of a roaring fire, before the meeting was thrown into chaos by members of the media shouting questions.
04:18 PM GMT
Trump ‘endorses Johnson to continue as Speaker’
Donald Trump endorsed Mike Johnson to continue as the top Republican in the House of Representatives today, according to reports.
A source present for the GOP conference in Washington, DC’s Hyatt Regency hotel told CNN that Mr Trump was “with Johnson all the way”.
Mr Johnson, the Speaker of the House, is up for re-election, and reports surfaced yesterday that conservatives could launch a challenge against his leadership.
When the Louisiana congressman addressed Republicans today, he is said to have called Mr Trump the “comeback kid”.
04:02 PM GMT
Trump motorcade heads to White House
Donald Trump has left a conference of House Republicans at the Hyatt Regency hotel near Capitol Hill. His motorcade is now heading through the streets of Washington, DC to a meeting with Joe Biden at the White House.
03:54 PM GMT
Pictures: Donald Trump meets with House Republicans after election win
Donald Trump reacts as he meets with House Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington – REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Donald Trump speaks as he arrives for a meeting with the House GOP conference – AP Photo/Alex Brandon
03:51 PM GMT
Trump makes new appointments to White House staff
Donald Trump has announced a flurry of new appointments to his senior White House staff:
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Dan Scavino will be appointed assistant to the president and deputy chief chief of staff
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James Blair will be appointed assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs
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Taylor Budowich will be appointed assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel
03:43 PM GMT
Reports: Musk ‘wanted to meet Biden with Trump’
Elon Musk privately expressed interest in joining Donald Trump for his meeting with Joe Biden, according to Politico.
The Tesla billionaire’s suggestion is said to have prompted a backlash from Trump aides. “Elon is getting a little big for his britches,” one said.
Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk sits as Donald Trump meets with House Republicans – REUTERS/Brian Snyder
It seems unlikely that Mr Musk will be present for the meeting between the two men, but he flew into Washington, DC with Mr Trump this morning.
03:31 PM GMT
Pictured: Trump heads down the steps of ‘Trump Force One’
Donald Trump heads down the steps of his plane ahead of his visit to the White House
“Trump Force One” taxis at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland – REUTERS/Brian Snyder
03:28 PM GMT
Reports: Trump lining up Ukraine peace envoy
As Joe Biden lays the ground to hand over power to Donald Trump, the president-elect is reportedly planning to appoint a Ukraine peace envoy tasked with ending the war in Russia.
“You’re going to see a very senior special envoy, someone with a lot of credibility, who will be given a task to find a resolution, to get to a peace settlement,” a source told Fox News.
“You’re going to see that in short order.”
03:21 PM GMT
Melania Trump wishes husband ‘success’ – but won’t go to DC
Melania Trump has confirmed that she will not meet Jill Biden at the White House, despite receiving an invitation from the First Lady. Her office said in a statement:
Mrs Trump will not be attending today’s meeting at the White House. Her husband’s return to the Oval Office to commence the transition process is encouraging, and she wishes him great success.
03:18 PM GMT
Where will Trump go before Biden meeting?
Donald Trump landed at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on Wednesday morning, where staff had rolled out a red carpet for him.
The president-elect was the first down the steps of his Boeing “Trump Force One”, accompanied by advisers and allies including Elon Musk, the Tesla billionaire.
Mr Trump climbed into his motorcade without speaking to reporters. He is currently addressing congressional Republicans about his administration’s priorities.
03:11 PM GMT
Watch: Trump returns to Washington, DC
03:10 PM GMT
Melania Trump will not be at meeting
When Joe Biden and Donald Trump meet at the White House today, there will be one key figure who won’t be present – Melania Trump, the former first lady.
Jill Biden extended Melania Trump the customary invitation last week, but Mrs Trump reportedly declined the offer, with sources citing a scheduling conflict.
03:05 PM GMT
Welcome
Hello and welcome to the live blog. Benedict Smith here. We’ll be bringing you all the latest updates as Donald Trump heads to the White House to meet with Joe Biden.
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